"So, we are going to be in New York in a few weeks." Kurt ran his fingers through Blaine's short curls, loving the soft, springy texture.

Blaine leaned his head back into Kurt's touch, enjoying the casual caresses. "Mmmm... Yeah, that will be nice. Maybe catch up with some of your old friends, right?" He flipped to the next page of his mystery.

Kurt shifted to sit beside Blaine, leaning up against the wall on their bed. "How about we visit your parents also?" His tone was soft, but serious.

Looking a little surprised at the suggestion, Blaine lowered his book and took a deep breath. "I don't think so, Kurt. I'm settled into my new life with you, and I'm really happy. Aren't you?"

Nodding, Kurt curled up against Blaine's side, kissing lightly near his ear. "I'm really, really happy. But I saw him, Blaine. I told you this. He knows about our relationship, even asked if I loved you and was happy that I did. He was really grieving over you."

Blaine met Kurt's eyes, and then looked down, shaking his head. "He could say those things, thinking I was dead. But knowing I'm alive... It would change things. Cooper is out of his realm of influence, but he wouldn't... Look, I just know he'd work on me, make me feel guilty, like I'm a bad son, and I'd get pulled back into his world."

"Even if we saw him together? Made the visit just a short one?" Kurt asked, scrambling to think of ways to make this work. "And just think about all the shows we'll be doing in the East soon. Even using a different name, sooner or later there will be someone in the audience who will recognize you and word will spread. Isn't it better if you contact him directly than him hearing about you being alive from some old acquaintance?"

Blaine sighed. "Maybe I should leave the circuit and join another one, stay in the West. Rejoin this one in a few months."

"You can't just run away from this, Blaine. The circuit managers won't let you come and go like that just to avoid the East." Kurt got up, stretching his arms up to get rid of a kink in his shoulder.

Blaine grabbed his hand, giving it a little tug, as he laid down. "OK, OK...I'll think about it. Now come here and kiss me properly. It's been ages."

It wasn't hard to convince Kurt to crawl over Blaine, settling between his legs, as Blaine's arms hugged him tight. "Yeah, since last night." Kurt chuckled, leaning in to kiss his handsome husband.

---

With every performance, Kurt could feel the surge of adrenaline when his music started, and he heard the sound the curtains being pulled back. This time, that feeling was even stronger, as they were debuting the new act tonight.

Leaning forward, he patted a large powder puff against his made-up face, and then gave a little jump of surprise before coyly peering over his shoulder at the audience.

"Oh, you caught me not quite ready for my act." Kurt stood up from his make-up table. The stage was set up to look like a back stage area.

"You know, a lot of people think it's easy, looking this good. Anybody can just put on some lipstick and a dress, and that's it. Do you agree?" He put his hands on his hips, waiting until there were some reaction from the audience. There were some shouted voices from the darkness agreeing and disagreeing, along with a lot of laughter.

Kurt nodded, with a smile. "Well, tonight we'll settle this, once and for all. I'm going to take two men from the audience and I'll teach them how to dress up and act, and you can be the judge for how easy it is to be a female impersonator."

The audience lapped it up, laughing and talking loudly as Kurt surveyed the crowd.

He pointed to Blaine, looking scruffy in some old clothes and a hat pulled down over his curls. Dirt was smudged on his face.

Next, he spotted Elliott planted on the other side of the hall, looking tall and very masculine.

The choices got a lot of laughs as the men tripped over other people, making their way to the stage. Nobody recognized them from the band, all thinking they were just regular audience members.

"Good. Now go behind that screen and wash up, and get down to your underthings."

The boys stepped behind screens that were low enough that their heads showed above the top edge.

Kurt picked up some white fabric and draped a piece over each screen. "Here's a chemise. Slip this on."

He then picked up a corset, holding it up to the audience with an exaggerated wink, getting a big laugh. "And I'll pass you a corset to slip on, you can help each other tightening them."

The audience roared at seeing Blaine's expressions as Elliott tightened his corset, ranging from surprise, to pain, to anger. Women seemed to laugh the hardest at this.

It seemed like he got his revenge though, as everyone could see Elliott's face going through similar expressions when Blaine tightened his laces

Kurt kept a pleasant smile on his face, and then picked up the dresses. "OK, now just slip on these dresses and let's see how good you look."

Blaine stepped out first in a red dress. He looked pretty funny, with his bushy, curly hair and a big grin. The dress fit him pretty good, but it was about six inches too long.

Elliott stepped out next, wearing a blue dress, and this one was about six inches too short. The audience loved it, laughing hard as the boys looked at each other, and looked down at themselves.

"Hmmmm...we'll have to do some alterations later. Maybe chop the bottom off this one and sew it on the bottom of the other." Kurt put his hand on his chin, pondering the boys.

"Well, for now, we'll just work with it. Now come over and sit down. Time for wigs and make-up." Kurt waved them over to the make-up stools.

He held up different wigs to the boys until they selected the one they wanted, and pulled them on at the same time. Blaine's was a bright auburn bob, the color clashing with his red dress. Elliott's was a platinum blond pile of elaborate curls, more suitable for Marie Antoinette, and made him even a few inches taller.

Kurt made a funny grimace at the audience, and everyone was laughing.

"Great! Now here's the lipstick and eye shadow... Just apply it lightly for a bit of feminine enhancement." Kurt advised, as the boys leaned into their mirrors, hands busy with applicators and the cosmetics.

They turned around together. Blaine had big red lips that matched his dress, but still clashed with his hair. Elliott had peacock blue eye shadow from his eyelashes to his eyebrows. The audience loved it.

"Ok, now that you have 'the look', time to teach you 'the moves'." Kurt encouraged them to stand on each side of him and then took a step forward. Blaine almost tripped on his long dress, and held it up high enough that his hairy legs showed a little.

Kurt waved to the musicians to start the song. "OK, I'll sing and dance, and you follow the motions as best you can."

Kurt moved gracefully around the stage, shimmying his shoulders occasionally.

Oh, I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate; 
She shakes it like jelly on a plate. 
My mama wanted to know last night, 
What makes the boys think Kate's so nice...

The boys tried to copy him, with hilarious results. Blaine kept tripping on his dress. Elliott looked ridiculous dancing in the short dress with his big work boots, and his tall wig kept tilting to the side. Neither of them was good at the shimmy. Blaine kind of did a version of the twist that got a good laugh each time, and Elliott's version was more like he had been electrocuted.

The song ended, Kurt standing center stage, looking beautiful and graceful, with Blaine holding his dress up, bunched in one hand, and Elliott holding his tall wig in place.

The audience were on there feet, clapping and hooting their appreciation. Kurt curtsied, and the boys got even more laughs as they tried to copy him and their wigs fell off. Kurt sent them both a big smile and a nod of appreciation.

---

“No, no…” Kurt stretched out his hand to cover his glass as Elliott tried to refill it again, giggling when the wine poured over the back of his hand and onto the table. “Oh, now you’re making a mess!”

Elliott grinned, tilting the bottle upwards again. “Move your hand! I’m celebrating and I’m not going to drink alone.” He motioned his head towards Blaine, who had had a little too much, too fast, and was now lying on his bed, snoring slightly. Other friends, like Melanie, Jimmy and Frank, had left after a couple drinks toasting their success.

Rolling his eyes, Kurt pulled his hand away. “OK, just a half glass more. That’s it, Elliott. We have to be able to perform for the matinee tomorrow.” Kurt usually had a glass or two in the evening, but there were a lot of empty wine bottles in the hotel room. He wasn’t completely sure how much he’d had, since Elliott was fast to top up the glasses.

“We’ll be fine. We can always nap a bit after the afternoon performance if we need to.” Elliott held up his glass, and Kurt clinked his against it, before taking a small sip. “You were so good, Kurt. This new act is going to be a hit. I can feel it.”

Kurt felt really pleased at the comment. “Thanks. You and Blaine did a great job too… great physical comedy.”

Moving a bit closer, Elliott looked into Kurt’s eyes, his gaze intent. “Don’t just brush aside my comment, Kurt. You found a way to show your female impersonation talent, your singing ability, and made it fresh and fun. A completely different act that all audiences will love.”

Kurt dropped his gaze, feeling flattered.

Elliott put his fingers below his chin to raise up his face, looking down into Kurt’s eyes. “So talented, so beautiful…,” he murmured. And then he leaned in, capturing Kurt’s lips.

The alcohol had slowed Kurt’s reaction time, and the kiss went on a few heartbeats longer than it would have if he were sober. By the time Kurt pulled back, shaking his head, the feel of Elliott’s lips was seared on his own. And there was a definite buzz of electricity.

“Elliott, I can’t…” Kurt started, glancing towards Blaine, but he was still deep asleep.

The tall man’s gaze followed Kurt’s, and he nodded. “You and Andrew are a couple, aren’t you? You tell everyone that you are just good friends, but you two are always together. Sitting a little close to be just friends.”

Kurt bit his lip, not really sure how to answer, and had a few too many drinks to do so.

Elliott scoffed, shifting away from Kurt. “You were so sad for so long, supposedly mourning your boyfriend from the Titanic. Andrew shows up and suddenly you are cheerful and performing your heart out.” He got up, straightening his clothes.

“Wait, Elliott…” Kurt reached out towards him, not even sure what he could say. He liked him, but his heart was taken. Standing up, Kurt was swaying a little as he followed Elliott to the hotel room door.

His hand was on the doorknob, but then Elliott spun around, pushing Kurt up against the wall. He pressed in close, his lips hard and urgent.

A gasp escaped Kurt at the unexpected contact, his head whirling at the sensation. Elliott was a very good kisser, and although Kurt pushed at his chest, he didn’t push that hard.

When the kiss ended and Elliott pulled back, there was a devilish glint in his eyes, knowing that he’d gotten more of a response from Kurt than he’d wanted to give. He was out of the door seconds later.

---

-Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Plots are thickening....queue up some dramatic music...

-“I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate” - written by Clarence Williams and Armand Piron, and published in 1919. I took some artistic license by using it here, in 1913, but couldn’t resist getting Kurt to shimmy. ;)